Tired of the 9-to-5 rat race? Craving a business you can call your own?
More and more, fledgling entrepreneurs are taking the plunge from salaried
employee to savvy small business owner -- and never looking back.
"I decided to start my own business because I became disillusioned with
other people holding [the] reins on my future. After a number of years being
an excellent employee, I realized that I had the necessary skills and maturity
to be solely responsible for my own success," says Melody Pierson, owner of
a website design and marketing firm.
Small business owners would rather face the ups and downs of self-employment
than be a regular employee. Striking out on your own isn't easy -- and budding
entrepreneurs will work long hours and juggle many responsibilities.
"I work Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.," says Pierson. As the
boss, small business owners are responsible for the all-important day-to-day
issues while responding to crucial customer service needs.
"The worst day in the history of my self-employment was when I lost a client
to another firm because I did not give the client the personal attention they
deserved. My pride got in the way of good business judgment."
Want to start your own business? Decide what type of business you want
and prepare for a bumpy ride.
"Whatever business you choose, please make sure it is something you sincerely
enjoy and find challenging," advises Pierson.
"Never lose your sense of humor and have faith in yourself. There will
be moments of insecurity, both financial and psychological. Embrace these
challenges and enjoy the experience. With the right business, and a good sense
of humor, a small business can provide big rewards."
The secret principle of business that Walter Daniels has learned is this:
"In a small business, everyone knows the business depends on the customer,
not the other way around."
Daniels runs a printing company specializing in customized products like
mugs. He feels part of the reason small businesses are so successful in our
economy is that they respond effectively to a customer's needs.
"I started my business because people wanted a service that could provide
a few personalized items at a reasonable cost," says Daniels.
According to this entrepreneur, being in business is all about problem
solving. "When I provide you with something you need at a price you can afford,
I've solved a problem and made a profit doing it!"
While Daniels' company is proving successful, there were some pretty scary
times in the beginning, especially since he invested his life savings in the
venture.
"Doing my first science-fiction convention, I made a total of $64 and spent
$150 to rent the table," says Daniels, who can look back and laugh at it now.
"When you don't even make enough to cover the expense of the table you
show merchandise on, you have a lot of doubts. You know it takes time to become
known and make sales, but you still wonder."
With those bumpy early days long behind him, Daniels is looking forward
to expanding into new products and designs. And as for the future, he's sticking
with the approach that has worked for him so far.
"Stay focused on the customer and take pride in your work. Make something
you believe in."
Trish Moore started her own business because she needed flexibility in
her life. That's only natural, since she lives in Hawaii and loves the beach.
When the waves off Kauai are really good, she just knows she's not going to
get any work done.
Moore is half of a World Wide Web and graphic design consulting company
based in Hawaii. For Moore, the idea of being her own boss started while she
was working in a job she hated.
"I just had to find something else. And ever since Hurricane Iniki, the
economy has really been struggling, so there wasn't much available. I knew
I had to figure something out," says Moore.
So, she took her computer skills and partnered them with the artistic talents
of her business partner.
Moore admits, like most small businesspeople, that she had some doubts
in the beginning.
"It was frustrating for a while because things didn't seem to be happening
as fast as I thought they should, and lots of times I wondered if anything
would ever happen."
Since the early days, Moore says, business has grown steadily and her clients
are genuinely pleased with her work. More importantly, Moore is doing something
she believes in and is working in a way that suits her.
"I love the flexibility and I love the fact that I can choose when and
how I work. When there's a boss looking over your shoulder, you do something
because you have to, not because you want to. To me, that makes a huge difference."
Not everyone may be cut out to run their own business. Moore says you have
to be willing to take chances and believe in yourself. It also helps to be
very independent.
There are a lot of pressures associated with owning your own business.
Right now, the financial pressures aren't too bad for Moore because overhead
is low. However, she does worry about keeping her business competitive in
a cutting-edge industry.
"Sometimes I get overwhelmed by technology. I feel like I have to spend
14 hours a day in front of the computer to just keep current," says Moore.
She could become obsessed with the technology and with what others are
doing, but Moore says that would conflict with the whole reason she became
an entrepreneur in the first place. Moore is here to provide a service, do
the best job she can and work in a way that suits her.
"Many people spend so much energy worrying about what the 'other guy' is
doing that they never sit down and figure out what they can do best and just
do it," says Moore.
"This may sound crazy, but we just don't care that much what others are
doing. We try to listen to what the client wants, and do a great job for a
decent price."